With the decision of actor Travis Fimmel to focus on acting on films rather than on the small screen, his character King Ragnar Lothbrok in the historical drama TV series “Vikings” on the History channel may be bidding goodbye to the show come Season 4 next year.
It is really difficult to find a replacement actor for Travis Fimmel and his character in “Vikings” so rather than do it and alienate some fans of the show, it seems like the producers are now contemplating of giving the actor a graceful exit on the TV series – the death of his character.
Reports have it that executive producer Michael Hirst has already teased the possibility of King Ragnar’s death come Season 4 and that his first-born son Bjorn Ironside, played by Alexander Ludwig, will serve as his successor as King of Kattegat in Denmark, details Venture Capital Post.
In a recent interview, Hirst said that fans should take note of the fact that King Ragnar is not only sick, but he is actually hovering from life and death during the Season 3 finale.
Charismatic and magnificent
He admits that Travis has been an absolutely charismatic and magnificent actor for “Vikings” but the show has already come to the point where his young and hot sons can take over from him. Hirst added that hopefully, the audience will continue to be engaged with Bjorn the way they were with King Ragnar, and will also follow him and his adventures or conquests.
The Christian Post confirmed that Season 4 will be the last time that Fimmel will play as King Ragnar because the actor really wants to concentrate on his movie career.
He has been cast as the lead character Andruin Lothan in the upcoming “Warcraft” movie, which is expected to be a smashing success if the millions of gamers around the world would decide to watch the film when it hits theaters soon.
The producers are said to be trying to carefully craft Fimmel’s graceful exit from the show in such a way that it will be less painful and disappointing to the millions of viewers of the popular TV series.
Shifting of focus
Although Fimmel shot to fame because of his stint in the very popular and widely-followed TV series, the actor believes that the only way that he can broaden his career and spread his wings as a well-rounded actor is by concentrating on doing films.
But since Fimmel has yet to confirm the rumors, everything about his plans after Season 4 of “Vikings” remains as speculations at this time and should be taken with a fine grain of salt.
However, there may be some semblance of truth to the rumors about the plans of Fimmel to go into movies as “Vikings” showrunner Michael Hirst was quoted in a recent interview that Season 4 will see a shifting of focus on the Vikings.
Instead of concentrating heavily on King Ragnar Lothbrok and his adventures, the upcoming Season 4 will focus on Ragnar’s sons, particularly Bjorn.
For sure, audiences will be greatly devastated if Travis Fimmel and his character Ragnar will leave the show through death. The show’s possible redemption, if ever, are Ragnar’s sons and the showrunner and the producers are hoping that if and when Travis Fimmel goes out for good from “Vikings,” the viewers will continue to be engaged and follow the stories of his sons, particularly Bjorn.
In addition to Bjorn, another possible successor to Ragnar Lothbrok, is his brother King Rognvaldsson Rollo, played by Clive Standen.
But since Bjorn hates his uncle to the guts, it is possible that he and Rollo may have to fight it out themselves to determine who will be the next leader of the Vikings.
Rollo, however, has plenty of things running on his mind right now, but he has no plans of becoming the leader of the Vikings so it is likely that the next leader of Kattegat is Bjorn.
Dissapointing that history telling on history channel is actually not historically correct…
I thought this at least is pretty accurate. Didn’t Ragnar die soon after the siege of Paris?
The thing you don’t understand is that “History” in some way or form is always incorrect when it comes accuracy of past events. This is due to either personal bias and the fact that our memories fade – and thus the historians who captured history always give distort reality, either consciously or subconsciously. Either way, Ragnar’s “historic” story is actually based of series of myths and writings in poetry – he could’ve been a metaphor for “great warrior” for all we know. What the History Channel is doing is that they are giving their own “interpretation” of his death, which in a way is historically correct.
It’s all now getting a little far fetched but depends on what History want to do however ” Chinese love interest”….oh dear it sticks out like a sore thumb. So far as I know (i.e. there may be others) Ragnar, if he existed at all, died of cholera or some such after the siege of Paris or in a pit of vipers courtesy of Aella thus we know his end. Rollo’s tomb in in Rouen complete with a little dog in stone at his feet. He died 930 ish as ruler of Normandy; think he outlives most of them :) The Lothbrok sons plus Guthrum and others went on to cause much mayhem for Alfred and the Saxon kingdoms later on. Haraldr Hárfagri did go on to become king of Norway.
The interpretation element is getting looser and looser for me and I’m struggling to maintain an interest thus am hoping that what hitherto has been one of the BEST shows ever in Seasons 1-3, gets it together again as it goes forward.
Rats, no edit button so, sorry for typos! :)
I can’t even imagine the show without Ragnar Lothbrok. The last 2 weeks have been devasting. Megan Boone died on Blacklist and now Ragnar is going to die on Vikings. Whatever happened to a series that last for years. Not sure If I will continue watching. Perhaps if Rolo and Lagertha have a bigger part again. Travis made this series. Never liked queen Aslaug and story behind their sons. Hopefully the show will continue to consume my interests.
I loved Ragnar at the beginning, but his involvement with that woman who was giving him that drug was not good. I wish Travis Fimmel all the best, but I am not sorry to see Ragnar go. I will still watch Vikings!
Ragnar? I hate the last 3 episodes already with him looking old, reluctant and dumb. I think I will stop watching here.
Show sucks now
I don’t know if I will continue watching. Ragnar WAS The Vikings. Will miss him tremendously. Have watched a couple of episodes since he “died” and not very good. Perhaps if Rollo had a more prominent part it would be better.